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Permian magnetostratigraphy and end of the Kiaman Reverse Polarity Superchron from the southeast Karoo Basin, South Africa.
  • Michiel Olivier de Kock,
  • Abosede Abubakre
Michiel Olivier de Kock
University of Johannesburg

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abosede Abubakre
University of Johannesburg
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Abstract

Paleomagnetic results and a ~2353 m-thick magnetostratigraphic section for undeformed middle to late Permian rocks in the southeast of the Karoo Basin of South Africa are reported. Pseudo-single domain or single domain titanomagnetite, as well as pyrrhotite, were identified as possible remanence carriers of a dual polarity magnetization interpreted as the record of the Permian geomagnetic field during the Kiaman Reverse Polarity Superchron and subsequent Illawarra mixed polarity interval. The timing of remanence acquisition is further constrained by the effect of Jurassic-aged dolerite intrusions, which either partially or wholly overprint the Permian remanence in their immediate vicinity. A paleopole at 53.2°S; 46.9°E and dp/dm = 5.9°/6.3° is calculated from the bedding-corrected primary remanence that was corrected for the effects of inclination shallowing using a correction factor of f = 0.6. This is comparable to known Permian paleopoles from the southwest section of the Karoo Basin and overlaps with the 280-210 Ma segment of the Gondwana apparent polar wander path. The end of the Kiaman Reverse Polarity Superchron can be correlated between the extremes of the Karoo Basin and reveal a diachronous boundary between the Ecca and the Beaufort groups that is calibrated for the first time.